ReENTRY: A DISPATCH FROM HOME
PJ Sosko, Joseph Harrell and Bobby Moreno co-star in ReENTRY, the world premiere docu-drama now playing at Two River Theater. (Photos by Mark Garvin)
When you think about it, some of the most compelling “war stories” take place in large part far away from the field of battle. The Best Years of Our Lives, Coming Home, The Deer Hunter — all derive their power from the challenges faced by the battle-tested soldier, forced to navigate the uncertain no-man’s-land between the culture of war and the resumption of old ways.
For ReEntry, an original work for the stage now featured at Red Bank’s Two River Theater, director KJ Sanchez and her writing partner Emily Ackerman conducted hundreds of hours of interviews — conversations with men and women who served as Marines in Iraq, as well members of their families and commanding officers — and used their actual words to tell a story of people doing whatever they can to adjust to a life that no longer seems like their own, and of their families who try to be there for them without necessarily having a clue as to what they’re going through.
It’s a story that’s punctuated with loud music and screen projections, peppered with f-bombs and presented sans intermission inside Two River’s “black box” performance space, where the production — the first dramatic work commissioned by and created for the Two River Theater Company — re-deploys for another 22 performances before wrapping up its tour of duty on February 15.
If you happen to be a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, there’s a free ticket with your name on it at the box office, courtesy of a Military Ticket Fund that’s underwritten by Meridian Health and Linda and Paul Gaffney (President of Monmouth University and retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral). Read on for more details.
While ReEntry is made up of a variety of voices and viewpoints, the focus throughout is on one particular family — brothers Charlie (Bobby Moreno) and John (PJ Sosko), each of whom has returned from Iraq with scars either visible or otherwise; Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris plays their mom and Sheila Tapia their supportive sister Liz.
Touching as it does on physical injury and post traumatic stress disorder; unconditional love and unwavering commitment, the central storyline provides real structure and genuine heart to what otherwise might have been a powerful but shapeless series of monologues.
The actors each offer up some additional portraits, such as “Tommy,” a brash young Marine dedicated to being there for his injured buddy, and “Lisa,” a female convoy leader whose matter-of-fact pride in her work is infectious. An unexpectedly poignant interlude features Sosko as “Pete,” a career soldier whose injuries require him to step into a civilian life he’s never really experienced.
Director Sanchez has secured herself a secret weapon in this cast — Joseph Harrell, a former Marine drill instructor himself, and an actor who brings an authenticity to the role of the CO that dispenses with R. Lee Ermey cartoonishness in favor of a clear-eyed authority that instantly grounds this slightly stylized project in the land of the living. It was Harrell who put his fellow actors through private “boot camp” training in preparation for the production, and Harrell who commands attention in his delivery of a memorable briefing for parents of recruits who are about to be deployed to a dangerous place as trained killers.
Missing in action here is any sense of blame-game politics, or of any overtly preachy point of view. These people, Corps to the core, are neither victims or villains; neither wavers of flags nor whackers of Bush. They have their bad days — in some cases really bad days — but they have each other’s backs, and they present a sense that they, and us, are going to come through this thing all right.
KJ Sanchez will explain the story of how ReEntry came to fruition in a series of BeforePlay talks presented 30 minutes prior to each showtime. In addition, Two River Theater and producing partner Monmouth University will host a special series of four free panel discussions on topics related to the play — full details on venues, topics and guest speakers can be viewed right here.
ReEntry continues with performances Wednesdays through Sundays until February 15. Tickets for all performances are $24 for all patrons 21 years and under; adult admission is $30 for matinees and $40 for evening performances. Ticket reservations and full schedule details, including information on Military Ticket Fund admissions, can be obtained by calling (732)345-1400 or visiting the Two River website.
TWO RIVER, TOO: It’s shaping up to be a busy month over at TRTC’s Bridge Avenue performing arts center, with the new mainstage production Mary’s Wedding gearing up for a run that presents its first previews in less than a week. Next Thursday, February 5, Two River founder Robert Rechnitz hosts Great Romances of Poetry, a special program of readings performed by TRTC actors as a lead-up to V-Day. And, on February 24, Hollywood legend Robert Wagner returns to Red Bank for a cocktail reception in which he’ll read from and sign copies of his newly published memoir Pieces of My Heart. More on Mary’s Wedding next week in oRBit — and watch this space for our own “heart-to-heart” with Wagner!
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January 29, 2009
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